Bayern forward Wagner moves to Tianjin Teda
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E-mail SHINE, January 31, 2019
Bayern Munich forward Sandro Wagner on Wednesday joined Tianjin Teda in the Chinese Super League for a reported transfer fee of 5 million euros (US$5.72 million) and a hefty pay packet.
A growing number of players are leaving Europe for China and typically earn much higher wages, although Chinese football authorities have moved to cool the transfer market.
The 31-year-old former Germany international started just once for Bundesliga champion Bayern this season and failed to make the squad for its past two games.
"Sandro Wagner came to us and asked to be released from his contract," said Munich's sports director Hasan Salihamidzic.
"He had a very attractive offer from China and we met his request."
Chinese and German media said Teda paid about 5 million euros for the forward, though German daily Bild said previously that Bayern wanted more than that.
Wagner has signed a two-year deal and will pocket about 7.5 million euros a season, Bild said, calling it "a mega salary".
The burly Wagner, who is a Bayern youth academy product, rejoined Bayern from Hoffenheim for 13 million euros last January to provide cover for Robert Lewandowski. The 31-year-old's contract had been due to expire in 2020. He also had spells at Hertha Berlin and Werder Bremen among others.
But he had become increasingly frustrated by his lack of playing time under Bayern head coach Niko Kovac.
In his 180 Bundesliga matches for all clubs Wagner has scored a total of 44 goals, winning two Bundesliga titles with Bayern.
Munich-born Wagner will link up with former Hertha teammate Felix Bastians at Teda, which is coached by another German, Uli Stielike.
Teda has struggled in the CSL in recent years, and finished just outside the relegation zone last season.
Wagner's wife Denise and their three children will join him in China, Bild said.
Wagner retired from international duty with Germany in May last year — an angry reaction to being left out of the 2018 World Cup squad by Joachim Loew, despite scoring five goals in eight games for his country.
The Chinese season begins on March 1.
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